The 12th annual Florence Nightingale Awards for Nursing will be presented by the Board of Advisors for the UC College of Nursing, April 21, at The Hyatt Regency Grand Ballroom, downtown Cincinnati.

Anyone can nominate a nurse who exemplifies excellence in direct patient care. Nominations are currently being accepted and the submission deadline is March 8.

Members of the Board of Advisors select the Nightingale Award winners. Selection is not based on the number of nominations received; however, all nomination forms for each nurse are considered.

"This award promotes nursing as a profession by rewarding current nurses for outstanding care of their patients," said Andrea Lindell, RN, DNSc, dean of the UC College of Nursing. Nominees must: demonstrate excellence in direct patient care; be a currently licensed RN; and reside and work in the Greater Cincinnati region.

Awards will be made on April 21, 2004 with each recipient being presented a commemorative plaque as well as either a Board of Advisors Award (for a total of six $1,000 awards), or a Dean's Award (for a total of ten $400 awards). Invitations for the Nightingale Awards ceremony will be mailed in March. If you do not receive an invitation by April 2 and would like to attend the event, e-mail your request to: karleea@ucmail.uc.edu. Please include your name and address and note Nightingale Invitation in the subject line.

Patients, family and friends of patients, colleagues, physicians and other healthcare workers are encouraged to nominate outstanding nurses. For more information, call the Florence Nightingale Awards Hotline at (513) 558-3329. For a copy of the nomination form, visit the UC College of Nursing Web site at www.nursing.uc.edu.